From: Kevin Bedell <kevin@...>
Date: 2005-11-04T06:15:37+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby Certification

Contributing to an open source project is much better credential than getting a
certification -- especially for Ruby.

btw - I have MCSE and Sun/Java certifications. But I don't think that ever help
me get a job and I don't think I'd ever get another. I will agree that I
learned things pursuing the certification that I would've never learned
otherwise (IP subnetting comes to mind...).

I think being a contributor on an open source project is a better credential and
takes about the same effort to accomplish.


Working on an open source project:

1) Allows you to learn from the best programmers around.
2) Gives you exposure to defect tracking, source code management, etc.
3) Demonstrates you've earned the respect of your peers in a technical
environment.
4) Proves you can work well as part of a team.
5) Provides you a great network of professional developers to help you land a
job.

Certifications don't prove you can work as part of a team and that others will
respect your work. Being a committer on a popular Ruby project does.

> > 2) Allows you to put those important "keywords" on your resume
> >    which gets you past HR and hence at the very least gets you that first
> interview.

Any company which uses Ruby as its primary development language probably has a
culture that respects open source committers more than people with buzzwords
and certifications.

> > 3) Icing on the cake - if you have the experience(the cake) plus the
> certification,
> >    then you'd be better tasting to a potential employer.

Being a committer is sweeter icing.

> > 4) Marketing value - companies could use your certification on their
> corporate profile,
> >    RFP submissions, bid submissions to list the qualifications of their
> employees.

Top committers on open source projects are better marketing. HP, IBM and others
now issue press releases when they hire top open source developers -- it shows
they are 'giving back' to the open source community. I've never seen them issue
a press release when they hire a certified developer. Martin Fink of HP brags
that one of his direct reports is Bdale Graby -- a recognized Debian guy. HP
also hired most of the Samba developers.

> Moreover, having the certification definitely helps gain the confidence
> saying you know the language. As salesmen can attest to, having the
> confidence is what gets the product sold, and during an interview you are
> definitely the product.

This is an area where being an open source committer wins hands down. Once you
win the respect of the other committers on your project, your confidence will
be much higher than if you pass a certification test.

-kevin


Kevin Bedell
http://www.kbedell.com

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
 - Albert Einstein